Seven in ten consumers in the UAE (73%) and Saudi Arabia (69%) are keen to learn more about the cost reductions provided by an electric vehicle as awareness of their availability and advantages spreads throughout the region. An investigation of customer interest in EVs, awareness of long-term cost savings associated with EV ownership, available EV car options, and charging infrastructure was undertaken by Morning Consult under contract for General Motors.
According to the survey, there is a very high level of general knowledge about electric vehicles, with 95% of respondents in the UAE and 93% in KSA reporting that they are aware of them. In both of the countries surveyed, awareness of EVs is also consistently high across all age categories and among men and women. A majority in both countries—63% in Saudi Arabia and 70% in the UAE—has expressed a strong interest in purchasing an EV as a result of this increased awareness.
In addition to being more aware of EV infrastructure in their country, those who express stronger EV consideration are also more likely to believe that doing so will save them money.
This optimistic view of EVs is consistent with estimates that global EV sales will increase from $10 billion in 2023 to $90 billion annually by 2030. The regional development under consideration is also consistent with regional efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, which have increased awareness in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and led to a greater comprehension of EV options and advantages. According to the study, the top factors influencing increased EV consideration in the UAE are the rising cost of gasoline and the reduction of environmental concerns, with 64% of those who are more likely to consider an EV today than they were a year ago choosing each of these factors. In the UAE, 73% of consumers believe that buying an EV will result in significant cost savings over buying a gasoline-powered car.
On the other hand, 65% of respondents in Saudi Arabia are more likely to consider an EV now than they were a year ago. In the Kingdom, 61% of people who are more likely to consider an EV point to the price of gasoline as a deterrent, while 47% believe that EV options have become more reasonably priced in recent months.
The optimal driving range of an EV, according to UAE participants, is 325 km on average, whereas in KSA, this was discovered to be 360 km. This is only one of the study's important findings that addresses a range of concerns. Furthermore, according to 36% of respondents, the rising interest in buying EVs in the Kingdom is a result of people realizing that they have a longer driving range than they did in the past. Using the Ultium battery platform, depending on the vehicle, GM's EV portfolio will be able to go more than 400 kilometers on a single charge, exceeding expectations in both countries.
"It is encouraging to see the rising positive sentiment toward EVs brought to light by this Morning Consult survey," said Jack Uppal, President & Managing Director, General Motors Africa & Middle East. As we move closer to realizing our vision for the future of mobility, we anticipate that consumer awareness and consideration will change as they learn about the long-term advantages of ownership, moving away from concerns about affordability and range and toward optimism about the ownership potential of these new technologies. To this end, we will increase the volume and variety of EV options we plan to offer on the market. In order to fulfill our promise to provide an electric car for every customer and every budget, we will push this transition in the direction of a future vision of mobility that combines electrification, autonomy, and connection.
In the UAE, more than one-third of respondents (38%) were aware of the location of at least one handy charging station, which is significant given that both countries are working toward their goals of becoming carbon neutral. A convenient charging station is available where people park their cars at home, according to four out of five people (80%), with the highest availability being in shared or public parking. In Saudi Arabia, two out of every five respondents (40%) said they were aware of a charging station, but only one in five (17%) thought it was close to their home or place of employment. This shows comprehension of existing initiatives to advance infrastructure as well as space for improvement. On this front, action is already well under way. Riyadh has set a lofty target of having 30% of all vehicles in the city run on electricity by 2030, and the UAE now has 600 charging stations with a rapid expansion strategy to be completed by 2050.
In order to cater for the mass rollout of electric vehicles, Uppal continued, "Each market will understandably have a distinct approach and timescale to infrastructural solutions. At GM, we prioritize a customer-centric strategy by making it possible for customers to charge their cars at home. When it comes to an electrified future of transportation, we are completely in agreement with the local leaders.
With local governments, General Motors will investigate combinations of public infrastructure, residential solutions, and community solutions to suit each market's needs. The optimistic outlook for electric vehicles (EVs) will aid this work. This emphasis contributes to continued efforts to carry out the long-term plan in place, which is inspired by a vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.